Risks

• Although the rigid bronchoscope can scratch or tear your airway or damage your vocal cords, the risk for bronchoscopy is limited. The conditions for which doctors use it are ongoing, life-threatening cardiac problems or severely low oxygen.
  
  
• Complications from fiberoptic bronchoscopy remain extremely low.
  
  
  • Common complications include either heart and blood vessel problems or excessive bleeding following biopsy.
    
    
  • A lung biopsy also may cause leakage of air called pneumothorax. Pneumothorax occurs in less than 1% of cases requiring lung biopsy.